Tranquilize
"Tranquilize" is a song by Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers, featuring Lou Reed. Written by Brandon Flowers, it is featured on the compilation album Sawdust.
| "Tranquilize" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Killers featuring Lou Reed | ||||
| from the album Sawdust | ||||
| Released | October 8, 2007 | |||
| Genre | Post-punk revival | |||
| Length | 3:45 | |||
| Label | Island, Vertigo | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. | |||
| Producer(s) | Flood, Alan Moulder, The Killers | |||
| The Killers singles chronology | ||||
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| Lou Reed singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
Tranquilize
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"It took a day to break the ice with him," Flowers said of Reed. "The second day of recording was a lot nicer than the first. On the first day we were all really stiff. It's funny, because you refer to him as 'Lou Reed', not 'Lou'. I remember somebody came into the studio. They could only stay in the room with him for two minutes. They left, saying, 'Lou Reed's really freaking me out.'"[1]
The song was made available for download on iTunes from October 12, 2007. A limited edition etched 7" vinyl of "Tranquilize" was available from November 5, featuring a lyric from the song hand-picked by Brandon Flowers etched on one side. The song reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the Download chart. It won Best International Alternative/Indie Track at NME's first ever USA awards.
The song was featured in a trailer for the fifth and final season of HBO's original series Boardwalk Empire.[2]
Track listing
- "Tranquilize"
Live performances
In concert, Flowers changes the lyrics at the end from "the Bushes and the bombs are tranquilized" to "the vampires and the bombs are tranquilized".
Music video
The music video features Lou Reed and was released on the 29 October 2007 in the UK.
The video features Flowers wandering around an empty house. Somewhere in the house is Lou Reed, sitting at a piano. Flowers sings the song, including Reed's parts, making it look like he has been possessed. Intercut with this are shots of the rest of the band in a darkly lit, red room, around a table, apparently performing a seance. The video ends with Flowers finding and pointing at Reed, singing his outro.
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[3] | 84 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] | 57 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[5] | 59 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6] | 13 |
Awards
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NME Awards | Best Indie/Alternative Track | Won |
| Best Video | Nominated | ||
External links
Sources
References
- Allen, Matt (January 2008). "Cash for Questions: The Killers". Q. No. 258. p. 20.
- "'Boardwalk Empire' season 5 - watch first trailer". NME.COM. 12 August 2014.
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "Austriancharts.at – The Killers feat. Lou Reed – Tranquilize" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "The Killers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2018.